Grapevine named ‘AMBER HONEY’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of grapevine named ‘AMBER HONEY’. The new early ripening, very fertile grapevine variety is particularly characterized by an attractive berry color, a very uniform bunch and a firm berry with tender crunchy skin.

Botanical name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vitis vinifera L.

Variety denomination: ‘AMBER HONEY’.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(f) of the Israeli Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 4231 filed Jan. 4, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct grapevine variety, botanically known as Vitis vinifera L., and hereinafter referred to by its variety denomination ‘AMBER HONEY’.

The new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Avichai Perl, Nachman Sahar, Oded Degani, Tatiana Okun, Arie Sarfian, Hanan Bazak, Refael Eliassi and Ahuva Daos at The Volcani Center, located in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new early ripening, very fertile grapevine variety particularly characterized by attractive berries with yellowish green color which are uniform in size and shape and are firm with tender crunchy skin.

The new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 2004 at The Volcani Center. The female or seed parent is the grapevine Vitis vinifera L indicated as ‘ARO 2117’ (unpatented), in the inventors' collection located in Bet Dagan, Israel, and the male or pollen parent is the grapevine Vitis vinifera L. indicated as ‘ARO 1717’ (unpatented) , in the inventors' collection.

The new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ was observed and selected by the inventors within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2007 at The Volcani Center.

Asexual propagation of the new grapevine variety by bud grafting was first performed in January 2008 at The Volcani Center, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new cultivar propagates true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘AMBER HONEY’ can be grown in various climates and growing conditions. The variety produces and maintains a strong vigorous plant and consistent fruit production from end June through end July in Bet Dagan, Israel.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘AMBER HONEY’, which in combination distinguish this grapevine as a new, unique and distinct variety.

-   -   1. Very fertile;     -   2. Early ripening;     -   3. Firm berry with tender crunchy skin;     -   4. Attractive yellow green berry color; and     -   5. Berries which are uniform in size and shape.

Plants of the new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ differ from plants of the parents, Vitis vinifera L.) ‘ARO 2117’ (unpatented) and Vitis vinifera L. ‘ARO 1717’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties. New Variety Female Parent Male Parent ‘AMBER ‘ARO 2117’ ‘ARO 1717’ Characteristic HONEY’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Berry shape broad elliptic rounded elongated Berry color of yellowish green yellow green yellow green skin Berry thickness thin very thick medium of skin Seeds absent absent absent

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar to the new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ are Vitis vinifera L. ‘SUGRAONE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,106) and Vitis vinifera L. ‘PRIME’ (registered for Israeli Plant Breeders' Rights No. 1467), which differ from the new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with similar varieties. Comparison Comparison New Variety Variety Variety ‘AMBER ‘SUGRAONE’ ‘PRIME’ Characteristic HONEY’ (patented) ( registered) Berry shape broad elliptic obtuse ovate oblong Berry color of yellowish green yellow green yellow green skin Berry thickness thin medium medium of skin Seeds absent absent absent

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new grapevine ‘AMBER HONEY’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed morphological description, which accurately describe the color of ‘AMBER HONEY’.

FIG. 1 shows a typical bunch of ‘AMBER HONEY’ on the plant.

FIG. 2 shows a typical mature leaf of ‘AMBER HONEY’.

FIG. 3 shows a typical inflorescence of ‘AMBER HONEY’.

FIG. 4 shows a typical growth tip of ‘AMBER HONEY’.

FIG. 5 shows a typical berry of ‘AMBER HONEY’.

DETAILED MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Vitis vinifera L. ‘AMBER HONEY’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending on variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions, without any change in the genotype of the grapevine.

The following description of ‘AMBER HONEY’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations and measurements taken during 2010 and 2011 at The Volcani Center, on plants grown in the vineyard located in Bet Dagan, Israel under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The described plants were grafted on ‘Richter110’ (unpatented) and planted at a distance of 1.5 m in sandy red loam soil at an elevation of about 30 meter above sea level with drip-irrigation up to 40 m³ per hectare in the peak season in the summer and Shefer 737+micro-elements 1.5 ltr. fertilizers in each 5 m³ of water. Average annual rainfall is about 550 mm, with an average of 350 mm rainfall in winter (December through February). Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed morphological description includes observations, measurements and values based on three-year-old ‘AMBER HONEY’ plants grown in the vineyard at The Volcani Center, located in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2010 to 2011. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of plants of ‘AMBER HONEY’. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the plants of ‘AMBER HONEY’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Vitis vinifera L. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Vitis vinifera L. ‘ARO 2117’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Vitis vinifera L. ‘ARO 1717’             (unpatented). -   Propagation: Grafting onto ‘Richter110’ (unpatented), Interspecific     Cross, V. berlandieri Planch×V. rupestris Scheele. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Temperature.—Bet Dagan — 30 meters above sea level.

Jan- Feb- uary ruary March April May June Mean maximum air 17.8 18.1 20.1 24.5 27 29.2 temperature (° C.) Mean minimum air 7.2 7.1 8.8 11.5 14.6 17.9 temperature (° C.) Mean rainfall (mm) 140.5 96.9 66.1 17.5 2.2 — Au- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- July gust tember ober ember ember Mean maximum air 30.8 31.2 30.4 28.3 24.1 19.7 temperature (° C.) Mean minimum air 20.6 21.2 19.4 16 11.8 8.6 temperature (° C.) Mean rainfall (mm) — — 0.4 20.4 76.2 130.3

-   -   -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of Shefer             737+microelements 1.5 ltr. in each 5 m³ of water. Growth             regulators: None applied. Pruning: as in commercial             practice. Training: Y trailing cordon.

-   Table of characteristics:     -   -   Plant.—Time of vegetative bud burst: beginning of March.         -   Young shoot.—Openness of tip: closed. Density of prostrate             hairs on tip: dense. Anthocyanin coloration of prostrate             hairs on tip: weak. Green color: green RHS 144 A. Green             color of upper side of undeveloped leaf blade: medium green             RHS 144 A with over color medium red brown between RHS 166 A             and 166 B. Green color of lower side of undeveloped leaf             blade: medium green RHS 144 B with over color medium red             brown RHS 166 C. Anthocyanin coloration: medium to strong.         -   Young leaf.—Density of hairs between main veins on lower             side of blade: dense. Glossiness of upper side: strong.             Glossiness of lower side: weak.         -   Shoot.—Length of internode: 8-14 cm. Thickness of internode:             6-8 mm. Color of dorsal side of internode: green RHS 144 A.             Anthocyanin coloration of dorsal side of internode: medium             to strong, RHS 178 B. Distribution of anthocyanin coloration             of dorsal side of internode: striped and blushed. Color of             ventral side of internode: green RHS 144 A. Anthocyanin             coloration of ventral side of internode: absent.             Distribution of anthocyanin coloration of ventral side of             internode: not relevant. Erect hairs on internodes: absent.             Height of node: about 2 cm. Swelling at node: less then             1 mm. Diameter of node: 12-16 mm. Color of dorsal side of             node: green RHS 144 A. Anthocyanin coloration of dorsal side             of node: medium to strong, RHS 178 B. Distribution of             anthocyanin coloration of dorsal side of node: striped and             blushed. Color of ventral side of node: green RHS 144 A.             Anthocyanin coloration of ventral side of node: absent.             Distribution of anthocyanin coloration of ventral side of             node: not relevant. Pubescence of node: absent. Length of             tendril: 19-34 cm. Diameter of tendril at base: 3-4 mm.             Diameter of tendril at tip: about 1 mm. Pubescence of             tendril: absent. Number of bifurcations per tendril: 4-5.             Color of tendril: green RHS 144 B. Anthocyanin coloration of             tendril: medium to strong, at lower part brown red RHS             178 B. Number of consecutive tendrils: 2.         -   Inflorescence.—Length: 22-26 cm. Maximum diameter: 6-8 cm.             No. of side branches: 9-13. Attitude of side branches:             horizontal. Length of longest side branch: 4-5 cm. Thickness             of main axis: 3-4 mm. Green color of main axis: light yellow             green RHS 145 B. Anthocyanin coloration of main axis: weak.             Pubescence of main axis: absent.         -   Flower.—Sexual organs: fully developed stamen and fully             developed gynoecium.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 5-7 mm. Thickness: less than 1 mm. Green             color: light yellow green RHS 145 B. Pubescence: absent.         -   Stamen.—Number: five. Length of filament: 2-3 mm. Thickness             of filament: minuscule. Pubescence of filament: absent.             Surface: smooth. Color: light green RHS 145 C.         -   Anther.—Shape: transverse elliptic. Length: minuscule.             Color: light green RHS 145 C.         -   Pollen.—Color: yellow RHS 150 B.         -   Ovary.—Shape: broad elliptic. Color: green between RHS 144 A             and 144 B. Length: 2-3 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm. Surface:             smooth.         -   Style.—Length: minuscule.         -   Stigma.—Size: minuscule. Color: yellow RHS 150 B.         -   Mature leaf.—Blade length: 15-19 cm. Blade width: 15-20 cm.             Shape of blade: pentagonal. Green color of upper side: dark             green RHS 139 A. Green color of lower side: dark green RHS             137 B. Glossiness of upper side: absent. Glossiness of lower             side: absent. Profile in cross section: undulated.             Blistering of upper side: weak. Number of lobes: five.             Central lobe length: 9-10 cm. Central lobe width: 10-11 cm.             Upper, side lobe length: 6-8 cm. Upper, side lobe width:             6-7 cm. Pubescence of veins on upper side: sparse to medium.             Pubescence of veins on lower side: medium. Green color of             veins on upper side: green RHS 137 C. Green color of veins             on lower side: yellow green RHS 145 A. Anthocyanin             coloration of veins on upper side: absent. Anthocyanin             coloration of veins on lower side: absent. Depth of upper             lateral sinus: deep. Arrangement of lobes of upper leaf             sinus: slightly overlapping. Arrangement of lobes of petiole             sinus: open. Petiole sinus limited by veins: absent. Length             of distal tooth: 10-15 mm. Width of distal tooth: 11-16 mm.             Ratio length/width of distal tooth: medium. Shape of tooth:             straight on both sides. Anthocyanin coloration of main veins             on upper side of blade: absent. Density of hairs between             veins on upper side of blade: medium. Density of hairs             between veins on lower side of blade: medium. Length of             petiole compared to main vein: similar. Length of petiole:             8-11 cm. Petiole thickness: 3-4 mm.         -   Petiole.—Green color of upper side: not visible. Anthocyanin             coloration of upper side: red between RHS 59 B and 59 C.             Green color of lower side: green yellow RHS 145 A.             Anthocyanin coloration of lower side: red between RHS 59 B             and 59 C. Pubescence: medium to strong.         -   Fruit.—Time of beginning of berry ripening: N/R.         -   Bunch.—Length (peduncle included): 25-35 cm. Maximum             diameter: 11-16 cm. Weight: 400-600 gr. General shape:             narrow triangular. Peduncle length: 5-8 cm. Peduncle             thickness: 5-10 mm. Peduncle color: yellowish green RHS 144             B with brown red overcolor RHS 183 B. Peduncle             lignification: present. Density: dense.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 8-11 mm. Thickness: about 2 mm. Color:             green RHS 144 B with athocyanin coloration RHS 183 B.         -   Berry.—Detachment: easy. Length: about 26 mm. Diameter:             about 20 mm. Weight: about 6.4 gr. Shape in profile: broad             elliptic. Shape in cross section: rounded. Depression at             distal end: present. Color of skin (without bloom):             yellowish green RHS 145 B. Amount of bloom: absent. Surface:             smooth. Thickness of skin: thin. Adherence of skin to flesh:             strong. Flesh color: light green RHS 145 C. Flesh             anthocyanin coloration: absent. Firmness of flesh: medium to             firm. Juiciness of flesh: medium. Particular flavor: absent.             Formation of seeds: absent.         -   Woody shoot.—Length of node: variable. Main color (without             bloom): brown RHS 177 B. Relief of surface: rough. Shape in             cross section: round. Diameter: about 9 mm. Lenticels: not             visible.

-   Usage: Table grape.

-   Disease\pest resistance: No atypical resistance has been noted. 

1. A new and distinct grapevine variety, referred to as ‘AMBER HONEY’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 